In the heart of Bluffton, SC’s historic Old Town’s art hub stands an art gallery that has withstood the test of time. Pluff Mudd Art has been an outstanding gallery exhibiting a variety of fine artwork for over ten years. On April 12, 2012, the public is invited to participate in its 10-hour long anniversary celebration. The gallery, at 27 Calhoun Street, will be open from 10am till 8pm. Artists will be there throughout the day to welcome visitors and share in the fun.
Pluff Mudd Art opened its doors in 2002 in the old Mercantile Building with 12 artists, both 2-D and 3-D. Today the gallery boasts 21 fine artists, all of whom had been juried in by their peers to ensure top quality. “The concept was inspired by Peggy Duncan and the late Jon Nelson who owned Crossroads Gallery,” says Lynda Potter, one of the original members of the gallery. They formed the Guild of Bluffton Artists, an affiliation of like-minded artists. The guild moved into the gallery which became known as Pluff Mudd Art when the gallery settled into its current space, the bright yellow cottage in 2005. The aim of the gallery is to “provide a venue for talented artists to sell their work, and to tangibly justify the reputation of Bluffton as an artists’ haven.”
Pluff Mudd Art Gallery takes its name from the odoriferous substance that is laid bare in our marshes at low tide. For natives returning from a trip, the distinctive aroma is the smell of home. For art enthusiasts, Pluff Mudd Art Gallery is the local home for fine art.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration will include 10 hours of snacks and refreshments (coffee and cupcakes in the morning, iced tea and cookies in the afternoon and wine and hors d’oeuvres starting at 5pm), there will be a drawing for ten pieces of artwork by Pluff Mudd artists, and for that day, all artists will be extending a 10% discount on individual items priced over $100. The gallery will be featuring its new spring collection. (The gallery produces a new show every quarter). The public is invited to tour the gallery, enjoy the art, talk with the artists and take advantage of the one-day discount on some of the artwork.
The current 21 artists exhibit a wide variety of media, styles and subjects. They include: watercolors, oils, acrylics, collages, prints, fiber art, jewelry, woodturnings, photography, sea-grass basketry, wood carvings, pottery and ceramics, notecards, representational art, abstract art, impressionistic art, and wire art. “The artists who comprise this co-op gallery have all been invited to join on the basis of their achievements and renown in their areas of expertise,” says Vickie Jourdan, general manager of the gallery. “We all share in the work of maintaining the gallery and one of our artists is always on hand to talk about their work and that of the other gallery members.”
“When I was accepted into the gallery,” says Irene K. Williamson, the newest member to join,” I felt like I had arrived. My artwork met the test.” Irene specializes in collages and abstract paintings.
Three charter members continue to show at the gallery—Lynda Potter, a mixed media artist; Vickie Jourdan, abstract artist; and David Knowlton who paints in oils. David Knowlton says “though we’ve added new members to the group, we continue to maintain the high quality of artwork for which we have been known over the years”.
Ten years on Calhoun Street has established Pluff Mudd Art Gallery as a must-see stop for visitors and locals interested in fine art. The charming, re-purposed home, is a comfortable location, unlike any other, in which to spend a fun-filled hour or more in an art-y ambience.
The members of the gallery include: Terry Brennan, Bob Berman, Peggy Carvell, Laura Cody, Diane Dean, Cheryl Eppolito, Ed Funk, David Knowlton, Marilyn McDonald, Daurus Niles, Linda Patalive, Jim Renauer, Patti Seldes, Michael Smalls, Ellen Blair Rogers, Steve White, Pat Wilcox, Caroll Williams and Irene K. Williamson.
For further information call the gallery at 843/757-5590.
